How Is Hamlet Related To The Movie Hamlet

“Films are subjective - I want to feel that the people who made that film think it's the best movie in the world. Whether or not I agree with what they've done, I want that effort there - I want that sincerity.” - Christopher Nolan. Franco Zeffirelli 1990s Hamlet is far from identical to Shakespeare's play, but it’s an interpretation that works. Having read Hamlet before watching the film I question some of Zeffirelli’s changes but I can understand why. One major change Zeffirelli makes to the original text is that he adds the Oedipus Complex I believe Zeffirelli made this change because he wanted a more of a relationship for Hamlet other than Ophelia, it adds more tension between Claudius and Hamlet, and last added more to Gertrude's character.
Zeffirelli knew Ophelia dies in the play as told by Gertrude in Act 4 Scene 7 so I believe that's why in the film we don't see much of relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia there rather distance and only on screen together a couple times with little interaction. Knowing Ophelia dies rather early on in the film Zeffirelli wants Hamlet to make some sort of connection romantically because in film romance enhances drama so he picks Hamlet’s mother. The Oedipus Complex in Hamlet has been debated by scholars for years and here Zeffirelli on his own take of Hamlet just goes with it. In the perspective of a writer and director Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude does add more to their deaths at the end of the film as they die near each other and Ophelia dies completely on her